Iannone lights up the desert on Day 2 of MotoGP testing

Doha/Bengaluru, March 3: Italian rider Andrea Iannone of Team Suzuki Ecstar went quickest on the second day of the third and final pre-season winter test at the Losail International Circuit, blasting to the top late on to take over from compatriot Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati Team.

The final day of pre-season is now just around the corner, with Saturday set to bring down the curtain ahead of the first race weekend of the year. The final day will also see the riders test under wet conditions.

A unique piece of history will be made during the final day of the #QatarTest as riders tackle the Losail International Circuit in wet conditions for the first time ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/262BVaM3yy
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) March 2, 2018

Despite some early rain in the desert, the field got in some good running on Day 2 - and it was Dovizioso and reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who ended the day closest to the 'Maniac' on the timesheets.

Iannone, who was also a key presence on Day 1 as he moved up the ranks from some more difficult tests at Sepang and Buriram, has been within the top five much of the time - and the Austria 2016 GP winner made a late attack to set a 1:54.586 and pull just 0.041 clear of Dovizioso, largely now confirming data and then working on race setup.

Team-mate Alex Rins, who has impressed so far in preseason, also made it two Hamamatsu factory machines in the top five on Day 2 - taking P5 and 0.288 off the latter.

(With MotoGP inputs)

Early end for Dovizioso

Dovizioso, meanwhile, ended his test slightly early after completing a program of 41 laps.

Having led for much of the latter part of the day. 0.041 off the top, the 2017 runner up was overwhelmingly positive about his bike and his bike at Losail - having also completed a longer run on the newer chassis, but there tempering the reaction with positives but some negatives.

Marquez makes headlines

Marquez, who was just 0.167 off Iannone, did make some headlines with a new aero update that was spotted on his Repsol Honda Team machine - as well as a crash.

But the reigning champion was quotable as ever, "Even the crash was good - because we tried the other bike with a different setup."

Pedrosa takes it easy

Marquez' team-mate Dani Pedrosa, meanwhile, took it a little easier on Friday.

After a big crash on Day 1 - he some pain in his hand meaning he didn't push; tenth after 35 laps.

The Spaniard had made big headlines of day 1 when he tumbled twice, though he was declared fit later to ride on the second day.

Not so Rossi!

Movistar Yamaha's Valentino Rossi was P11 and only 0.034 off the top ten and Pedrosa in P10, and the 'Doctor' explained he was having some problems with the front tyre that put paid to a time attack.

But the rider from Tavullia said his pace "wasn't bad", with that front tyre - especially over race distance - a key focus for his side of the garage.

Miller on the move

Alma Pramac Racing were the third Independent Team represented in the top ten and their pairing of Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller took P8 and P9 to end the day just behind Yamaha's Maverick Vinales.

The two men were split by less than a tenth and it made for another impressive test performance for Queenslander Miller as he settles into life on Ducati machinery - as well as podium challenger 'Petrux'.